1. IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
- Wreck Name: George W. Adams
- Type: Schooner-Barge (originally a four-masted schooner)
- Date of Incident: December 11, 1895
- Location: Near Colchester Shoal, Lake Erie
- Coordinates: (Exact coordinates not provided)
- Depth: The vessel initially sank in five fathoms (30 feet) of water, with reports indicating a water depth of as little as 14 feet over the wreck before it was removed.
- Condition: The wreck was a significant obstruction in Lake Erie and was subsequently removed by the Michigan Wrecking Co.
2. VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The George W. Adams was a wooden schooner-barge, originally built as a four-masted schooner in 1875 by Bailey Bros. in Toledo, Ohio. The vessel had impressive dimensions for its time, measuring 231 feet in length, 40 feet in beam, and 20 feet in depth, with a gross tonnage of 1,444 tons and a net tonnage of 1,372 tons. It was initially one of the largest sail vessels on the Great Lakes and was well-regarded for its capacity and design.
3. HISTORY #
The George W. Adams had a notable career on the Great Lakes:
- 1875: The vessel was launched as one of the largest four-masted schooners built at the time, constructed by Bailey Bros. in Toledo, Ohio.
- 1895: On December 11, the George W. Adams met its tragic end while being towed by the steamer Caledonia. The vessel was bound from Cleveland to Chicago, carrying a cargo of coal. Near Colchester Shoal in Lake Erie, the schooner-barge encountered heavy ice, which crushed its hull and caused it to sink. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident.
- 1896: During the summer following the sinking, efforts to salvage the wreck were made but proved unsuccessful. The vessel remained submerged and became a significant navigational hazard.
- Removal: The wreck was eventually located and examined by the Dominion cruiser PETREL, which found that the water depth over the wreck was as shallow as 14 feet, making it a dangerous obstruction. The Michigan Wrecking Co. was contracted to remove the wreck, successfully clearing the hazard from Lake Erie.
4. FINAL DISPOSITION #
The George W. Adams was ultimately removed from Lake Erie after being identified as a dangerous obstruction. The wreck was cleared by the Michigan Wrecking Co., eliminating the hazard it posed to other vessels navigating the area.
5. NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #
There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically related to this wreck site, as the wreck was removed. However, the site is historically significant, and records of the wreck’s location and removal are documented in maritime history.
6. LOCATED BY & DATE #
The wreck was located and examined by the Dominion cruiser PETREL after the sinking in 1895. The removal operation was carried out by the Michigan Wrecking Co. in the summer following the incident.
7. CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The wreck of the George W. Adams has been removed, so there is no wreckage to explore at the site. The location remains part of Lake Erie’s rich maritime history, but there are no remains accessible for diving or exploration.
8. RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Primary Sources: Historical records, maritime logs, and newspaper archives.
- Further Reading:
9. CONCLUSION #
The George W. Adams was a significant vessel in the history of Great Lakes shipping. Its construction as a large four-masted schooner and subsequent conversion to a schooner-barge allowed it to serve as a major cargo carrier on the lakes. The tragic sinking in 1895 due to ice damage highlights the dangers faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes. The removal of the wreck by the Michigan Wrecking Co. ensured safe passage for other ships, but the story of the George W. Adams remains an important part of maritime history.
10. TAGS #
- Tags: #GreatLakes #Shipwrecks #LakeErie #MaritimeHistory #SchoonerBarge #GeorgeWAdams #ColchesterShoal #HistoricalShipwreck #UnderwaterExploration
